Linden Unified superintendent placed on paid leave

LINDEN — Linden Unified School District Superintendent Michael Gonzales was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday night, roughly two hours after the last Linden High graduate crossed the stage to mark the end of the 2012-13 school year.

LINDEN — Linden Unified School District Superintendent Michael Gonzales was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday night, roughly two hours after the last Linden High graduate crossed the stage to mark the end of the 2012-13 school year.

Gonzales, hired in 2011, has worked the past two months under a cloud of sexual harassment allegations and other complaints that he has created a hostile work environment and caused the district to miss crucial deadlines for needed federal money that helps fund the district's poorer school sites.

Board President Clay Titus read a brief statement indicating that Gonzales had been placed on leave.

“The board is not at liberty to provide further comment,” Titus said.

The board will name an interim superintendent at a future meeting.

Members of the Linden community filled the district boardroom at the late-night meeting, a closed session that was scheduled for 9:30 p.m., right after the graduation ceremony. The meeting ended at 11:12 p.m.

The audience clapped when Titus announced a 6-1 vote. Trustee Diana Machado dissented.

“I think it is about eight weeks late, but it's a step in the right direction,” parent David Jackson said.

The district's top educator came under fire in April after Waverly Elementary School Principal Lisa Pettis took medical leave citing stress from a “hostile work environment.” Some Waverly parents pleaded with trustees for answers as to what conflict had prompted Pettis to take leave.

In early May, Pettis' lawyer, Warren Osgood, filed a complaint with the Department of Employment and Fair Housing, saying Gonzales had sexually harassed his client. Osgood cited unwelcome advances, some touching, and at least one graphic text message.

Osgood further produced a report showing that an independent attorney hired by trustees found that Gonzales did sexually harass Pettis. An arrangement made for Pettis to continue working outside of Gonzales' supervision was never enacted by trustees, Osgood said.

A second complaint filed against Gonzales with the Department of Employment and Fair Housing came from Linden Elementary Principal Sharon Womble, who complained her contract was not renewed for 2013-14 because she had reported sexual harassment against Gonzales on behalf of one of the teachers she supervised in 2011.

Four Waverly parents also filed Uniform Complaints with the Department of Education claiming the school had been unsafe without a full-time administrator after a student brought a gun to campus April 29, and that Gonzales does not have the required credentials to be a high-ranking educator.

Gonzales did not attend the meeting and did not return messages for comment.